Structure for securing gutter screening to building gutters



Nov. 7, 1967 c. H. WENNERSTROM STRUCTURE FOR SECURING GUTTER SCREENING TO BUILDING GUTTERS Filed Feb. 18, 1965 IINVENTOR. CARL H. WENNERSTROM ATTORNEYv United States Patent 3 351,206 STRUCTURE FOR SEiIURING GUTTER SCREEN- ING TO BUILDING GUTTERS Carl H. Wennerstrom, 4039 N. Monitor Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60634 Filed Feb. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 433,703 1 Claim. (Cl. 210-474) This invention relates to improvements in structure for securing gutter screening to building gutters; more particularly, the invention relates to improvement in structure adapted for use with an ogee or box section type gutter having an inturned upper flange or rim.

The structure according to the present invention is particularly adapted for use with gutters of the so-called ogee or box type which have a horizontally extending stiffening flange formed by folding the gutter metal upon itself. The structure according to the present invention consists of lengths of resilient material so formed as to have a common central limb or element, with flanking resiliently biased limbs or elements presenting entrant jaws for engaging the gutter screen and the aforedescribed stiffening flange. One pair of such limbs defined by the central limb and one of the resilient limbs is provided with structure engaging the inturned flange of the gutter with a certain snap or detent action, while the other pair of limbs defined by the central limb and the other of the resilient limbs is adapted to engage the gutter screen with considerable frictional force by reason of the resiliency of such limbs so as to prevent the unintended removal of the gutter screen.

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of this invention to provide a simple structure for securing gutter screen in position overlying the gutter trough, and to permit release of the gutter screen for removal of small debris from the trough or for painting of same.

Another object is to provide a simple structure for the purposes set forth which can be formed easily into short or other convenient lengths for ready placement on the gutter section for the subsequent placement of the gutter screen in position thereon.

Other embodiments and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawing which together describe and illustrate a prefer-red embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention will be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such embodiments are intended to be reserved, especially as they fall Within the purview of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an eaves detail of a building showing the improved structure according to the present invention situate thereat;

FIG. 2 is a detailed transverse cross sectional View of a portion of a box type gutter adapted to receive the structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional View through the structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view thereof:

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a gutter screen adapted to be received in the structure of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse section through a box type gutter showing the invention structure situate thereat.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved structure according to the present invention is denoted by the reference numeral 10 and is situate in the environment of an eaves detail shown in FIG. 1. The eaves detail is part of a building structure including a wall 11 surmounted by a wall plate 12 having inclined rafters 13 secured thereto in a well known manner. Roof sheeting 14 is secured to the rafters 13 and the exposed ends and bottom of the rafters 13 are closed by a fascia 16 and a sofiit plate 17, which bears against an upper fascia part of the wall 11. The roof sheeting 14 may be covered by a conventional composition shingle roof 18 consisting of a starter course 19, and a first shingle row 21 and subsequent rows of shingles 22 in a manner well known.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 6 the fascia 16 supports a box type gutter 23 having a front ogee flange 24 and a back flange 26. Gutter 23 is adapted to be secured to the fascia 16 by long nails 27 guided in a tube 28 having its ends bearing against the front flange 24 and the back flange 26, the tube 28 operating as a spacer to maintain the contours of the box gutter section 23 during installation. The back flange 26 may, if desired, have a flange 29 extending a short distance beneath the starter course The front flange 24 of the box gutter 23 has an upper generally horizontally extending inturned flange 3 1 which is stiffened by a lower flange element 32 formed by bending of the metal of the flange 31 upon itself as seen in FIG. 2. The lower flange element 32 together with the upper flange element 31 define a step 33 for a purpose as will appear.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the structure 10 according to the present invention comprises a central limb 34 adapted to overlie the upper flange element 31 when it is in place on the gutter 23. The central limb 34 is resiliently connected to an upper limb 36 by means of a bight 37, the upper limb 36 being curled as seen in FIG. 3 at 38 to define an open jaw 39 for the reception of gutter screen 41 which overlies the box gutter section 23 seen in FIGS. 1 and 6.

The structure 10 also comprises a lower limb 42 which is resiliently connected to the central limb 34 by means of an integral bight 43. The lower limb 42 is turned back upon itself as at 44 to provide an element 46 which to gether with the central limb 34 provides an open jaw 47 adapted to receive the flange elements 31 and 32 therebetween. As seen also in FIG. 3, the element 46 is turned back upon itself to provide an element 48 which bears against the inner face of the lower limb 42.

The structure comprising the lower limb 42 the elements 46 and 47 together provide a detent latch 49 adapted to engage the step 33 on the flange elements 31 and 32 to prevent the unintended removal of the structure according to the present invention. As seen in FIG. 6, the detent latch 49 is shown in position against the step 33 formed by the upper and lower flange elements 31 and 32, the gutter screen 41 being held in position by the structure 10 so as to overlie the box gutter 23.

While the structure 10 has been shown as being made of metal which may be formed in a progressive die operation, it is evident to those skilled in the art that the same can be formed in an extruding operation from certain kinds of metal such as aluminum, for example. Alternately, and if desired, the material from which the structure 10 is formed may be of certain kinds of organic resins having memory and resilient properties.

In commercial practice the structure 10 may be sold in short lengths adapted to be placed at proper intervals throughout the length of the gutter section 23. After being so placed the gutter screen 41 can be inserted into the jaw 39, and the screen 41 may be removed from the section for cleaning of the gutter of those particles which pass through the gutter screen 41.

Having thus described this invention in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, and having set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out this invention, the subject matter regarded as being patentable is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in what is claimed, it being understood that equivalents or modifications of, or substitutions for,

parts of the above specifically described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in what is claimed.

I claim:

In combination with a gutter, a resilient locking device of the class described holding a gutter screen in position to a longitudinally extending eaves gutter having a front wall with an integral stiffening flange comprised of an upper flangeelement bent upon itself to form a lower flange element integral with said upper flange element so as to provide a step; said resilient locking device being unitary in construction and extending longitudinally of the gutter and comprised of relatively thin flat resilient material consisting of a central limb substantially overlying said upper flange element for substantially the total width thereof and extending lengthwise thereof and in contact therewith, an upper limb coterminous with said central limb and substantially overlying said central limb and resiliently connected thereto and presenting with said central limb an open elongated jaw opening receiving the gutter screen and resiliently gripping the same, a lower limb integral and coterrninous with said central limb and presenting with said central limb an open elongated jaw receiving the gutter stiffening flange therein, said lower limb being turned back upon itself to form a detent latch, said detent latch engaging the step of the gutter thereby preventing unintended removal of the locking device from the gutter, said element yielding uponengagement of said central limb and said lower limb with the horizontal flange of said gutter and thereafter moving to locking position with the step of said gutter to prevent the unintended removal of said article of manufacture from said gutter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

